Taste of the Danforth 2027

Taste of the Danforth

Taste of the Danforth is a massive street festival in Toronto’s Greektown, celebrating Greek food, culture and hospitality. It was launched in 1994 by local Danforth Avenue businesses, inspired by the Taste of Chicago. It grew into one of the largest street festivals in Canada, and at its peak it drew well over a million visitors over a single weekend. After a pause of several years, the festival returned to the Danforth with its trademark mix of sizzling souvlaki, live bouzouki music and packed sidewalk patios.

The festival is held annually over a weekend in early-to-mid August. About 1.6 kilometres of Danforth Avenue, from Broadview Avenue to Jones Avenue, closes to traffic. For three days, the Greek restaurants, bakeries and tavernas lining the strip set up tasting stalls on the street, and stages and activity zones take over the side streets and intersections.

Greek Food Festival Highlights:

• Greek Street Food on Danforth Avenue: Affordable tasting menus from Greektown’s restaurants include souvlaki and gyros, spanakopita, grilled octopus and honey-soaked loukoumades, alongside dishes from the many other cuisines that share the strip.
• Four Free Entertainment Stages: The Greek Stage has traditional music, singing and folk dancing. The World Stage and Showcase Stage feature acts from Toronto’s many communities. A “Let’s Dance” stage offers short performances followed by dance lessons open to everyone.
• Plate Breaking & Themed Zones: Take part in the “It’s All Greek To Me” plate-breaking experience, relax in the beer garden, or visit the Hollywood on the Danforth and Sports zones.
• Kids’ Fun Zone: A dedicated family area has games, crafts and activities for younger visitors, which makes the festival an easy day out with children.

Tips for Visitors & Trip Planning:

• Free Entry: Admission is free. You pay only for food, drinks and activities, and the tasting portions are priced so you can sample several dishes as you walk.
• Beat the Crowds: The festival runs from Friday evening to Sunday night, and Saturday evening is the busiest time. Come on Friday or on Sunday afternoon for shorter lines at the most popular food stalls.
• Getting There: Take the TTC. Line 2 Bloor–Danforth stops at Broadview, Chester and Pape stations, right along the festival route. Driving isn’t practical: the avenue is closed and nearby parking is scarce, and some streetcar and bus routes are detoured for the weekend.
• What to Wear: Toronto in August is hot and humid. Wear light clothing and comfortable walking shoes, and bring sunscreen and a refillable water bottle.
• Accommodation: Toronto has an enormous range of hotels, and downtown is only a few subway stops from Greektown. Summer is the city’s peak festival season, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
• Explore Toronto: Round out your trip with the CN Tower, a ferry to the Toronto Islands, St. Lawrence Market or a day trip to Niagara Falls — browse top Toronto tours and activities here.

Participating restaurants, stage schedules and festival hours are published on the official Taste of the Danforth website. See details below, under “Event Related Information” section.